Efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in recurrent ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Review Paper 12/08/2025
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Efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in recurrent ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Shafee Ur Rehman
Int. J. Biosci. 27(2), 134-140, August 2025.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2025; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

Recurrent ovarian cancer leads to chemoresistance which results in a poor treatment outcome. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess dual capabilities of immune regulation and tumor targeting, making them suitable for therapeutic applications. The research aims to both assess the therapeutic effectiveness and safety profile of MSC-based treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer patients. A PubMed search revealed studies from 2015 to 2025 using specific keywords to find relevant information. The research team applied inclusion criteria to filter studies before extracting relevant information. The analysis combined hazard ratios (HRs) for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) through a random-effects model. The research also evaluated adverse events that occurred during the study. The analysis included 12 studies from a total of 33 that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis demonstrated that patients who received MSC treatment experienced better PFS (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.58–0.89) and OS (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65–0.93) than control patients did. The reported adverse events were mostly light and temporary. MSC therapy shows promise for enhancing survival results in recurrent ovarian cancer patients while maintaining a positive safety profile. Additional large-scale randomized controlled trials must be conducted to validate these findings and enhance treatment protocols.

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